No. 18 Indiana Takes Down Maryland 9-4 for Third Place at Elite Eight Tournament

Jakie Kohli

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The No. 18 Indiana University Hoosiers (9-5) concluded a weekend of rock-solid play with a 9-4 victory over the University Maryland to claim third place in the Elite Eight at the Cousilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. Indiana tallied the first six goals of the contest to quickly distance themselves from the Terrapins.

"I thought we really set the tone with some early goals," said Indiana head coach Barry King. "We did a good job of making things difficult for the other teams throughout the weekend with consistent team defense."

The Hoosiers were led in scoring by the threesome of Kara Butler, Jakie Köhli and Kelly Palmberg, each notching two goals. Kelsey Campbell, Hanna Eimstad and Nicole Redder scored one goal apiece for Indiana.

Butler got the Hoosiers on the board first with a post-up strike just one minute into the action. Redder then capitalized on a power play, finding the net after a cross pass from Köhli. Indiana wrapped up the first period with a close-range goal by Köhli after an outlet by Palmberg to give the Hoosiers a 3-0 lead.

Butler made numerous key plays for the Hoosiers during the second quarter, including one goal, one assist, and one earned kick-out that led to a Palmberg score. The assist from Butler came after she received a lengthy pass from goalkeeper Katie Carson and found Campbell open on the weak-side for the score. Less than a minute later, Butler hauled in an entry pass from Redder and spun in a post-up goal to give Indiana their largest lead of the contest at 6-0.

The Terrapins got on the board at the 4:51 mark of the second period as they converted with the shot clock winding down to make it a 6-1 Indiana halftime lead.

The Hoosiers continued to apply the pressure on both ends during the third quarter. Palmberg notched a backhand goal in the post after an assist by Lauren Wyckoff. Wyckoff also finished the game with three kick-outs earned, giving her a team-high 28 on the season.

Carson played a complete game in the cage for the Hoosiers, finishing with a season-high 15 saves. Ten of her stops came in the second half of play as she was the backbone of a stingy Indiana defense that allowed four goals on 30 Maryland shots.

Indiana and Maryland each tallied two more goals in the third to make it a 9-3 Indiana advantage heading into the last eight minutes. Eimstad scored from distance after an assist by Campbell, while Köhli converted on a six on four opportunity. Köhli scored multiple goals in each of the Hoosiers’ three games at the Elite Eight.

The only fourth quarter goal came from Maryland’s Allison Campbell, sister of Indiana’s Kelsey Campbell.

Indiana Goals: Butler 2, Kohli 2, Palmberg 2, Campbell 1, Eimstad 1, Redder 1
Indiana Saves: Carson 15
Maryland Goals: Campbell 1, Gurnee 1, Hill 1, Powers 1
Maryland Saves: Stein 8, Reyes 4

Release courtesy Indiana Athletic Communications